BATTY 3
Why dive here
With 153+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles, sperm whales, whale sharks and pufferfish - BATTY 3 offers some of Perhentian Islands's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest May, June, July.
Batty 3 is an unexpected find in the Perhentians, a much deeper dive than most come here for. This old barge, sunk in 1969, sits upright at 52 metres, making it a serious tech dive, not a casual jaunt. We love the way it just appears out of the blue, a dark silhouette on the sand, almost perfectly preserved by the depth and lack of strong currents. The hull is coated in sponges and colourful soft corals, like a forgotten art installation. Look for the resident batfish that drift around the superstructure, often curious about divers, and we’ve seen some decent-sized groupers lurking in the shadows of the cargo holds. Penetration is possible for trained wreck divers, but the silt can be thick, so buoyancy is key. Our advice? Hit this site in the morning for the best chance of decent visibility before any thermoclines set in. It’s a quiet, contemplative dive, a real contrast to the shallower, busier reefs, and a fantastic option for experienced divers looking for something a bit different.
Typical BATTY 3 Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Maximum depth 52m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
BATTY 3 Wreck History
Year Sunk
1969
Vessel Type
barge
Cause
collision
The sinking of the Batty 3 was a strange and unfortunate accident. On August 15, 1969, the barge was under tow by the tugboat Michael B off the coast of Terengganu, near the Perhentian Islands. During a maneuver, a miscalculation led to the Michael B colliding with its own tow. The impact caused significant damage to the Batty 3's hull, and the barge immediately began to take on water. The situation was unsalvageable, and the barge sank to the seabed.
Resting at a depth of 52 meters, the Batty 3 is now a destination for advanced technical divers exploring the deeper sites around the Perhentians. The warm, clear Malaysian waters offer excellent conditions for a deep dive. The wreck itself is a large, open structure, allowing for relatively straightforward exploration. Divers can swim along its length, observing the damage from the collision and picturing the unusual circumstances of its sinking, while the structure becomes a habitat for a variety of deep-water marine life.
Reviews for BATTY 3
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for BATTY 3
BATTY 3 Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for BATTY 3, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
30.89°C
88°F
Current Speed
3.16 cm/s
Direction: E (71.6°)
Salinity
31.75 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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